NASHUA – Students in the 21st Century Extended Day program at Fairgrounds Elementary School will get a chance to meet a Vermont or New Hampshire author or storyteller and take a few books home thanks to the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).

The foundation is a nonprofit organization which aims to create a love of reading and writing among at-risk children. The program provides grants to 10 Vermont and New Hampshire organizations serving the population.

The foundation has served more than 180,000 low-income, at-risk and rural children in 400 communities throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.

In the fall, author and illustrator Erin Moulton visited the Southern New Hampshire University Child Development Center in Nashua to read stories to the children, and provide parents tips on reading with their children. Moulton gave tips on reading aloud, such as keeping children actively engaged by pointing out certain things on a page and keeping the experience fun. She also discussed the importance of offering a wide variety of reading material. Similar to this, an author or storyteller will be heading to the 21st century learning program.

Foundation Communications Manager Erika Nichols-Frazer said organizers of programs interested in receiving the grant must apply. They aim to donate to a variety of different programs, including after-school programs, early childhood programs and English Language Learner programs.

Nichols-Frazer said the foundation was drawn toward Fairgrounds Elementary School’s after-school program because more than 70 percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, as well as the fact that many students face issues with homelessness and significant language barriers.

Nichols-Frazer said since the foundation was established, it has donated more than $6 million worth of books. The foundation receives no state or federal funding – just local community funding. This funding goes a long way.

“Our goal is to inspire a love of reading and writing and igniting the spark that will be lifelong reading. Those who do love reading are more likely to keep doing it,” Nichols-Frazer said.

Gail Casey, 21st Century program coordinator, expressed gratitude for the foundation.

“We are really pleased to receive the CLiF grant in the 21st century program. Literacy is really an important part of academic success and complements the work we have been doing very nicely,” Casey said.

Casey said the students will benefit from receiving two books to take home. They will also be providing families with an opportunity to bring literacy into their homes outside of the school.

“Our hope is we will be able to positively impact our families,” Casey said. She added, “Research shows a lot of students who have books in their home do well academically. The fact that students will now have books to take home will be a great opportunity.”

This isn’t the first time the foundation has helped students. Casey said during the summer, the foundation provided a similar opportunity for summer school students.

“We are very fortunate in Nashua for their help,” she said.

Grace Pecci can be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.